To address the DHS need for providing U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents with an innovative agent-portable device to augment situational awareness in low light/adverse conditions, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes, in Phase II, to advance the new Infrared and Optical Wilderness Location and Surveillance (IROWL) system proven feasible in Phase I. IROWL is based on the unique integration of a handheld spotting device, display, and compact multispectral zoom optics. This lightweight handheld device includes surveillance optics, infrared sensors, and display electronics to enable Border Patrol Agents to detect, identify, recognize, and track humans while on the move under low-light and adverse conditions. The onboard computing software supports real-time image stabilization, image enhancement, and via integrated components enables computation of target coordinates, making it a complete system. In Phase I, POC demonstrated the feasibility of IROWL by design, modeling, assembly, and testing of a preliminary prototype at TRL-4. Working with input from Border Patrol Agents, we plan to define and describe usage scenarios for IROWL, providing a robust starting point for proposed Phase II field testing and demonstration. In Phase II, POC will build a functional prototype for testing and demonstration with Border Patrol. The successful completion of this project at the end of Phase III will benefit the nation in both government and commercial sectors by improving Border Patrol's ability to safely and effectively monitor U.S. borders. Commercial applications for this technology include geolocation, spotting, and tracking on wilderness terrain for professional and recreational pursuits.

Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) face multiple challenges when pursuing adversaries in difficult terrains. Intelligent Automation Inc. (IAI) proposes to develop a novel target tracking and recognition system using a small UAV. Named Dismounted Adversary Recognition and Tracking System (DARTS), the UAV will have an advanced sensing, video processing, and autonomous flight control capabilities to follow designated targets allowing the agent to focus on mission priorities.
When an agent decides to pursue adversaries, the agent will be able to launch the DARTS UAV, and direct it to one or multiple locations, and to specify which IoI to follow. Operating autonomously, DARTS will control the UAVs flight as it continues to track the IoI using image-based cues, reacquire the IoI as needed (e.g., when the IoI goes into hiding), and recognize the IoIs actions. DARTS will display the acquired imagery and IOI information on the BPAs Control Unit.
At the Phase I final demonstration, IAI has demonstrated proof-of-concept in (1) intuitive user interface for directing the drone to user-selected locations, (2) autonomous flight control, (3) advanced video analytics for detection, tracking, and identification, and (4) following of IOI autonomously.

Vulnerabilities in telecommunications channels are being exploited at alarming rates by malicious attackers to commit fraud, perpetrate scams, and organize data breaches. In addition to financial losses incurred by corporations and taxpayers, attacks against government agencies such as the DHS can severely compromise national security. A common element of these attacks is the attacker's ability to leverage weaknesses in authentication capabilities of modern telephony systems and to deceptively assume a trusted identity. With the simplicity of caller ID spoofing and the growth of VoIP calling, attackers can spoof any desired caller ID, change their caller ID for every call, and place millions of VoIP calls around the world simultaneously, all while enjoying the protection of being nearly untraceable. The focus of this project is the development of an innovative real-time caller authentication system that leverages advanced audio signal processing and machine learning techniques to determine legitimacy of the call when the available metadata is insufficient to make a reliable decision. The end goal is an automated caller authentication solution that provides users with real-time authentication feedback on multiple platforms like smartphones, PCs, laptops and VoIP systems. This will be the first caller authentication system of its kind available to end users outside of an enterprise call center setting, and is expected to find broad use across government, corporate, and consumer sectors to protect against the growing incidence of fraud, scams, vishing, and data breach attacks.

Company

SecureLogix
13750 San Pedro
Ste 820
San Antonio, TX
78232-4314

Proposal Information

HSHQDC-17-R-00010-H-SB017.1-003-0003-II - A Layered Service Provider/Customer Approach to Call Spoofing

Topic Information

H-SB017.1-003 - Do Not Spoof Services for Modern Telephony

Award/Contract Number

70RSAT18C00000011

Abstract

Our proposed solution is based upon three primary concepts. First, we define the Authentication Engine, which is a cloud-based service that is passed simple information about a call, masks the complexity of using a variety of techniques to detect spoofing or authenticate the caller, and returns a score and actionable category for a very wide variety of scenarios. Second, we are making heavy use of information and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) from our service provider subcontractor, Verizon. SecureLogix proposes to team with Verizon, who by many measures is the largest domestic service provider and clearly the largest service provider for the US government. Thirdly, we will deliver a prototype using our PolicyGuru solution, which can utilize the Authentication Engine with granular polices across multiple types of large government and enterprise environments. In summary, the Authentication Engine will make spoofing detection and authentication capability widely available to any customer, leverage information from Verizon, and also leverage our ability to implement granular policy. This approach will support 911, government users, enterprises, and also mobile devices.

For a DHS SBIR Phase I award, VOCAL (Verification of Caller Ascertained Logically), AnaVation built a prototype of the Do Not Spoof Service (DNSS), a modular, componentized solution for spoofed call detection and blocking and/or notification via multi-layered call and user authentication and validation. During Phase II we will focus on production-level development, such as improving and adding functionality, hardening code, refreshing the User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX), testing and QA. This will result in delivering a production-ready minimum viable product (MVP) capable of deployment. The DNSS MVP will include five componentized services that will integrate across both mobile and VoIP systems and leverage applicable and operational best practices for the telephony industry to address multiple telephony spoofing challenges identified in Phase I research. The solution delivered at the end of Phase II will minimize the financial and security impact of spoofed calls.
Our modified technical approach - as opposed to that of a single, take-all-or-nothing solution - will amplify DNSS's value and increase its commercial viability, and, most importantly, its impact in combating malicious spoofed calls. There are commercial applications for government organizations, telecommunications providers, industry organizations and caller-ID/call-blocking solutions providers. AnaVation has already received a Letter of Intent (LOI) from Nomorobo, one of the largest call-blocking services, indicating that it intends to integrate/consume one of DNSS's services once production-ready (Do Not Originate as a Service (DNOaaS)).

First responders such as law enforcement, fire department and emergency service personnel are subject to hazardous environments, including Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs). Protecting first responders and their long term health is a priority of the Department of Homeland Security. The objective of the proposed SBIR project is to develop a wearable chemical sensor badge capable of detecting at least four of the targeted high priority TICs. The badge will be designed to be worn by first responders, and will provide a visible and auditory alarm if TICs are present at a dangerous level. To enable everyday use by first responders, the badge will be small, lightweight, low-cost and rugged. In phase 1, Morphix developed a design for the badge and successfully conducted a proof of concept evaluation. In phase 2, Morphix will fabricate and evaluate badge prototypes. Morphix intends to market this wearable badge to federal, state and local law enforcement, emergency medical service and other first responders.

Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs) are a great concern for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since they would be easier for terrorists to obtain and use than Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs). Hence, a wearable low cost (less than $50) multi-gas sensor is needed to alert first responders to the type and level of hazard they face. Such wearable sensors will also find use in the much bigger industrial worker safety monitoring market.
In this SBIR Project TDA Research, Inc. (TDA), with Texas Tech University (TTU), is developing a simple, low cost wearable smart sensor badge that has high sensitivity and selectivity to multiple TICs at trace (low parts per million) concentrations and triggers distinct alarms. The wearable smart badge is smaller than 2 in. x 2 in. x 0.5 in. and can detect multiple TICs of interest with a low rate of false alarms.
We met all the proposed Phase I technical objectives, we demonstrated a fully integrated prototype chemical sensor badge that can detect and quantify H2S and ammonia, and obtained performance data that included results for these two TICs both separately and together in the presence of other contaminants such as CO, C6H6 and smoke. We also carried out a detailed design of the high fidelity sensor badge, generated 3-D models and assessed its techno-economic merits. In Phase II we will improve the sensor selectivity and fabricate at least six prototype wearable sensor badges to demonstrate their ability to detect at least 4 of the target TICs.

In an emergency or other special situation, government agencies can send messages to mobile phones in affected areas using Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). The messages might convey life-saving information where it is needed, but vulnerabilities in the underlying mobile networks could allow bad actors to use WEA to send their own messages for harmful purposes. NAND Technologies will research and develop new methods to authenticate WEA messages and give mobile phone users the confidence that the emergency alerts they receive are legitimate, and to give U.S. Government agencies the ability to provide more information than the current system allows.